For several thousand KU students Â mostly wide-eyed freshmen Â the annual Traditions Night marked their first public appearances as real Jayhawks.

So what if they clapped out of sync during the fight song and flubbed the words of the alma mater? They'll have their entire college careers Â four years, often more Â to get it right.

"It has history, and it's up to us to keep it up," said Orianiz Medina, a Topeka freshman. "If the tradition dies, then KU dies."

Richard Johnson, dean of students and a former rival Missouri Tiger, led the students in learning the words to "I'm a Jayhawk" and helped them learn when to clap.

"I thought the clapping was hard," said Scott Southern, a Springfield, Mo., freshman. But, he admitted, he was slightly distracted by another KU tradition Â the cheerleaders.

Chancellor Robert Hemenway said KU's heritage would help students feel connected during their time at KU.

"We want you to feel KU is your home away from home," he said.

James Carothers, interim associate provost, told the students about some of the lesser-known KU traditions. Freshmen were once forced to wear beanies. Seniors and freshmen squared away for an annual tug-of-war match across Potter Lake.

Those traditions have died away, he said. But, he said, it will be up to the new generation of Jayhawks to decide traditions for the future.